LONDON, United Kingdom — The United Kingdom has had six prime ministers since 2010, with Keir Starmer currently serving as the sixth, following the resignations of David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, and Rishi Sunak over a period of 16 years.
David Cameron served the longest among the six, with 2,254 days in office from May 2010 to July 2016. His tenure included the 2014 Scottish independence referendum and the 2016 EU membership referendum, after which he resigned following the Brexit vote.
Theresa May succeeded Cameron, serving 1,106 days from July 2016 to July 2019. Her premiership was dominated by Brexit negotiations and her failed attempts to secure parliamentary approval for her withdrawal agreement, leading to her resignation.
Boris Johnson served 1,140 days from July 2019 to September 2022. He led the Conservative Party to a landslide victory in the 2019 general election and delivered Brexit, but his tenure was overshadowed by the Partygate scandal and economic challenges, ultimately leading to his resignation.
Liz Truss holds the record for the shortest premiership in British history, serving just 49 days from September 2022 to October 2022. Her tenure was marked by a disastrous mini-budget that triggered market turmoil and a collapse in the pound, forcing her resignation.
Rishi Sunak served 619 days from October 2022 to July 2024. He inherited a difficult economic situation and stabilised markets but faced ongoing challenges including inflation, public sector strikes, and the cost-of-living crisis. He lost the July 2024 general election to the Labour Party.
Keir Starmer, the current prime minister, has served 717 days and counting since July 2024. However, Starmer has announced his resignation but will remain in office until a successor is chosen. His tenure has been marked by efforts to restore public trust in government and address economic challenges.
The turnover of prime ministers in the UK since 2010 reflects a period of significant political instability, driven largely by the fallout from Brexit, economic crises, and internal party divisions. The average tenure for the five completed premierships is approximately 1,033 days, while the median tenure is 1,106 days.
Cameron and Johnson each served over three years, while May and Sunak served around two years each. Truss’s 49-day tenure stands as an outlier, underscoring the volatility of British politics during that period.
As the UK prepares for a new prime minister, the nation reflects on a tumultuous decade-and-a-half of political leadership. For now, Starmer remains in office as the search for his successor begins.
